The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-31
THE CHICAGO LABOR WAR.
Expectation that Crisis Will Be Reached
This Week-The Present Situation.

CHICAGO, May 3O-The nex1dx days are liza
Bile to witness the critical period in the great
strike of the building trades. For four weeks
strike has followed strike, terminating in lock-
out affecting, to n greater or less extent, almost
every trade in the City of Chicago Fully II, 900
idle and it is stated upon good author
ity that a thousand frst-class mechanics
have left the city. A careful estimate shows
that wages to the amount of 100000 have been
lost to the strikers 1t is impossible to estimate
the amount of capital which has been diverted
from the building trades. Well-known Eastern
capitalists have instructed their Chicago agents
20 make no investments pending the adjustment
OF the strike, and, in several cases, large enter
prises will be dropped until next year, and per-
haps forever The master masons, realizing
that so long as the trades unions were governed
by their present laws and customs, the strike
liable to be duplicated at any time, resolved
to mako a supreme effort to force the abolition
Df the abuses of which they were the conspicu-
ous victims. The code of principles and work
Ing rules adopted would. if enforced. result 10
3he complete abolition of the unions
constituted. The developments of the last week
have dem onstrated that If this is accomplish ed
1t must be done by the master masons. They
formulated the plan OF campaign, and Il ave
asked the kindred trades to indorse their code
f PRINCIPLES and follow in their footsteps. The
response to that appeal was not enthus; Astic
Ie was expected by Messrs. Prussing Downey,
Tapper and other prominent contracting ma
Bons. The master carpenters adopted the plat
form, but nullifed their action by refusing to
pet any date upon which it was to go into effect.
The recollection Of desperate struggle with
their men, in which the honors we're admitted to
be even, had n restraining effect upon this pow
srful organization. A resolution will be offered
Gt the next meeting of the master penters
making nine hours days work, but from pres
hnt indications will be defeated. The conserva-
tive element in both master masons and car
penters is composed of those contractors almost
entirely dependent upon union labor. In many
eases another protracted strike means bank
ruptcy in the smaller contracting Carpenters.
Many of the leading master carp snters
owners of sash, door, blind and plaming mills,
the ownership of which gives them n great ad-
vantage in strike or lockout
An analysis of the situation proves that the
strike has resolved itself into a cont est between
the master masons and their eraployes, the
brick-lsyers and hod carriers who have formed
offensive and defensive alliance The other
trades represented in the Builders and Traders
Exchange in n state of armed neutrality,
aud, while in active sympathy with the master
masons, are afraid to render any practical sup
port. The master masons will depend almost
entirely upon brick-ayers from other cities. The
next few days will demonstrate tai what extent
this source can be utilized. The. answers the
advertisements, Saturday, were encouraging.
be secured. The leaders of the brickayers
promise that no violence will be offered to any of
the imported brick layers. Every effort will be
used, however, to induce the ne w comers to join
The union and all the strates ems of modern
strikes will be brought into play